Telescoping pole rack

Abstract

A telescoping pole rack is used with a utility vehicle for supporting a utility pole or other load. The telescoping pole rack comprises a base, a lower telescope segment, an upper telescope segment, an actuator, and a pole rest. The base configured to be secured to the utility vehicle. The lower telescope segment is secured to the base and oriented in a substantially upward direction. The upper telescope segment is configured to nest with the lower telescope segment. The actuator is associated with the lower telescope segment and the upper telescope segment to selectively elongate the telescoping pole rack. The pole rest disposed atop the upper telescope segment configured to support at least a portion of a pole thereon. The telescoping pole rack is used with a static pole rack to support utility poles at a certain traveling angle relative to the ground.

Having thus described various embodiments of the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent includes the following: 
     
       1. A telescoping pole rack comprising:
 a base configured to be secured to a chassis of a utility vehicle; 
 wherein the base is elongated and includes at least one interfacing plate; 
 wherein the interfacing plate is complementary to the chassis of the utility vehicle; 
 a lower telescope segment secured to the base and oriented in a substantially upward direction; 
 an upper telescope segment configured to nest with the lower telescope segment; 
 an actuator associated with the lower telescope segment and the upper telescope segment to selectively elongate the telescoping pole rack; and 
 a pole rest disposed atop the upper telescope segment configured to support at least a portion of a utility pole thereon. 
 
     
     
       2. The telescoping pole rack of  claim 1 , wherein the telescoping pole rack is configured to be utilized in conjunction with a static pole rack, such that the utility pole is supported by both the telescoping pole rack and the static pole rack. 
     
     
       3. The telescoping pole rack of  claim 1 , wherein the base is configured to be secured to a chassis of the utility vehicle at a posterior end of the utility vehicle. 
     
     
       4. The telescoping pole rack of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the upper telescope segment presents a horizontal cross-section that is larger than a corresponding horizontal cross-section presented by the lower telescope segment, 
 wherein the lower telescope segment is disposed at least partially within the upper telescope segment. 
 
     
     
       5. The telescoping pole rack of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the actuator is disposed at least partially within the upper telescope segment and the lower telescope segment, 
 wherein the actuator is a hydraulic cylinder. 
 
     
     
       6. The telescoping pole rack of  claim 1 , wherein the upper telescope segment includes a pole-securing assembly for selectively securing the utility pole to the pole rest. 
     
     
       7. The telescoping pole rack of  claim 6 , wherein the pole-securing assembly includes:
 a strap anchor configured to securely hold a first end of a strap; and 
 a strap ratchet configured to secure and tighten a second end of the strap that has been fed from the strap anchor around the utility pole. 
 
     
     
       8. The telescoping pole rack of  claim 7 , wherein the pole-securing assembly further includes:
 a strap post secured at a proximal end to the upper telescope segment and configured to extend laterally outward from the utility vehicle; and 
 a strap base secured to a distal end of the strap post, 
 wherein the strap anchor and the strap ratchet are secured to the strap base such that the pole-securing assembly is conveniently located for an operator to reach. 
 
     
     
       9. The telescoping pole rack of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the pole rest is generally U-shaped so as to present a recess, 
 wherein the recess is configured to receive the utility pole therein. 
 
     
     
       10. The telescoping pole rack of  claim 9 , wherein the U-shape of the pole rest includes:
 a first vertical post; 
 a second vertical post; and 
 a horizontal base post disposed between the first vertical post and the second vertical post. 
 
     
     
       11. The telescoping pole rack of  claim 10 , wherein the horizontal base post includes:
 a plurality of protrusions oriented substantially upward so as to induce friction on the utility pole, 
 wherein the plurality of protrusions is distributed laterally spaced along the horizontal base post; 
 wherein a first protrusion of the plurality of protrusions presents a first length and is disposed near a center of the horizontal base post, 
 wherein a second protrusion of the plurality of protrusions presents a second length and is disposed near the first vertical post, 
 wherein the second length is longer than the first length; and 
 a protrusion guard for being selectively added to the horizontal base post, 
 wherein the protrusion guard prevents the utility pole from contacting the plurality of protrusions so as to prevent damage to the utility pole. 
 
     
     
       12. The telescoping pole rack of  claim 1 , wherein the lower telescoping segment is secured to the base by at least one lower angle support. 
     
     
       13. The telescoping pole rack of  claim 10 , wherein the horizontal base post is secured to the upper telescoping segment by at least one upper angle support.